An important conversation that arose within class was the Bible and its relationship to “covers” of songs in pop culture. I never realized how important the role of ancient language was in the interpretation of Psalms. Originally, these were written to rhyme in ancient language, which explains how the meaning has evolved over time. Many different translations try to match the rhyming quality of the original author, skewing the definition of the word slightly. This is a lot like covers of songs in modern society, as different techniques and genres of the remakes can completely change the experience for the listener. I never thought of this analogy before, and also often forget that there is music in the Bible at all. Hearing the same passages in Christian pop rock in the same few songs on the radio, it’s hard to remember that these Psalms are part of a larger work, with much more context.
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